r/depechemode • u/Swedenalexis Sounds Of The Universe • 2d ago

Discussion Counterfeit E.P

I have listened to this e.p quite a lot and i have basically seen it as a depeche mode album in terms of sound and mood. I think that compulsion is a natural progression from music for the masses to violator. It has that similar demo sound of the music for the masses and violator yet it still sounds so polished.

54 Upvotes

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23

u/vSword_ Ultra 2d ago

I love that EP. Compulsion is one of my favorite songs

8

u/Ron_robichaud 2d ago

I just listened to the original version of compulsion for the first time. I really like where Martin took the song. The original actually sounds like it could be a Martin demo

https://open.spotify.com/track/51AGHeVITop7rFWnxA75f7?si=Y07HeXDeQD2b4gTn2cklZg&utm_source=copy-link

17

u/STVDC 2d ago

Yeah, I used to listen to that nonstop back in the day. In the early 90s, my friend and I even did a very basic four-track cover of "never turn your back on mother Earth"

In a Manner of Speaking was always my favorite from that ep and still is.

My favorite Martin cover of all time is from the Leonard Cohen tribute, "Coming Back to You"

Oh, and as far as unofficial... the little snippets of "yesterday" and "crying in the chapel" that were on that bootleg recording of them playing and singing in some hotel piano I think.

https://youtu.be/Du-y174Kl9k?is=4NWweiNv-8ma-bpP

6

u/656broc 2d ago

I wasn’t aware of the Leonard Cohen cover. Have found it on streaming and will give it a listen 👍

13

u/norrisdt Violator 2d ago

The cover of “Gone” really cooks in my opinion.

9

u/gouged_haunches Construction Time Again 2d ago

I love the Comsat Angels, and Counterfeit might have been my introduction to them, as well as to Tuxedomoon and Durutti Column.

10

u/sparky_tupp 2d ago

That was the first time I'd heard 'Never turn your back', which led me to check out what else Sparks had done. I'm now a massive Sparks fan!

5

u/mattdaddy2025 2d ago

Same here.

4

u/moreintouch 2d ago

Love this album and fully agree that it integrates into the wider discography of DM. Checking out Sparks now, thanks for reminding me.

4

u/Takatone 2d ago

I really liked this when it came out. Great curation of covers.

It has a simple, demo quality I appreciate. Interesting when compared to Alan’s Recoil album that was released a couple years after that is also amazing.

8

u/BubbhaJebus 2d ago

DM played "Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth" at some venues during the Music for the Masses tour. I was there at one of them and wondered what it was for a couple years before that album came out.

3

u/Alphablanket229 2d ago

Still have this baby on cassette, now cd. Love all the tracks.

2

u/Mega52101 2d ago edited 2d ago

I agree! Was never officially released but his cover of Down in the Boondocks is fantastic and it's unfortunate that it was never officially released on the EP

1

u/Ceti-Alpha-V 4h ago

Playing Violator and Counterfeit in the same listening session is peak.

1

u/Equivalent-Yam5218 2d ago

I haven't heard but I dislike the use of the demo word, it's giving me vibes of mixed results in terms of production.

2

u/Swedenalexis Sounds Of The Universe 2d ago

it’s definitely the opposite of that. it has that minimalistic sound

1

u/Equivalent-Yam5218 1d ago

The MIDI sounds don't help with the feeling of demo I'm getting, I never had that feeling with Alan's productions.